On Thursday night, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal had a very harsh message for Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons – all while praising Joel Embiid.
“I stay on big guys because I care about them,” Shaq said. “I want them to play a certain way, I want them to play at a certain level. The difference between [Embiid] and his soft partner [Simmons] is, he can take criticism without being a crybaby and he still wants to play.”
“Me and Charles, we’ve been on [Embiid] and we stay on him,” Shaq continued. “We told him to his face what he needs to do. He didn’t cry, he didn’t say ‘I want to get traded’, he didn’t complain about mistreatment. And that’s the difference. That’s why I like and respect him. The other guy, I don’t respect him.”
Fans couldn’t help but weigh in on Shaq’s harsh comments for the former No. 1 overall pick.
“No doubt, @SHAQ has grown into as great a broadcaster as he was a player. This is what we call unvarnished opinion, delivered expertly and succinctly,” Rich Eisen said.
No doubt, @SHAQ has grown into as great a broadcaster as he was a player.
This is what we call unvarnished opinion, delivered expertly and succinctly. https://t.co/VHNcCVF5L9
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 28, 2022
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“Everything Shaq says here is fair,” Eagles beat writer Mike Kaye said.
Everything Shaq says here is fair: https://t.co/bnWfOA91C0
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) January 28, 2022
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Shaq clearly isn’t happy with Simmons’ decision not to play this season.
The post NBA World Reacts To What Shaquille O’Neal Said Tonight appeared first on The Spun.